Design of new Mandel Archaeology complex in JerusalemPhoto Credit: Safdie

The Mandel Foundation of Cleveland is funding a new library for archeology to be built on the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Schottenstein National Campus next to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The IAA announced the gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation to establish the Mandel National Library for the Archaeology of Israel and Mandel National Archaeological Archives, which is being designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie.

The campus, designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, will serve as the new education, research, conservation and illumination center and as headquarters of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The complex will house nearly 2 million archaeological objects, among them 15,000 Dead Sea scrolls, viewable conservation and restoration laboratories, an auditorium, special study galleries, an archaeological education center, roof top exhibition gardens and a café.

The 35,000-square-meter campus is scheduled to be inaugurated in April 2016.

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel National Library for the Archaeology of Israel, located within the complex, will house nearly 150,000 volumes, including 500 rare books, and over 1,000 periodicals. The adjacent National Archaeological Archives will contain the Israel Antiquities Authority Archive, the British Mandatory Archive as well as maps, permits, plans and publications of excavations from the Mandatory Period through today.

The library and archives will be the largest of their kind in the Middle East. Morton L. Mandel, Foundation chairman and CEO said, “We welcome the opportunity to support the Israel Antiquities Authority in its mission to excavate, research, conserve and educate the public about the archaeological and historical heritage of the Land of Israel spanning the past 10,000 years.”

About the Author:Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu is a graduate in journalism and economics from The George Washington University. He has worked as a cub reporter in rural Virginia and as senior copy editor for major Canadian metropolitan dailies. Tzvi wrote for Arutz Sheva for several years before joining the Jewish Press.

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